Perilous
Times and Climate Change
Raging New Mexico Wildfires Being Aided By Wicked Winds
11:46 AM, Jun 19, 2011
Santa Fe, NM -- Wildland fire crews responded to fires
reported Saturday afternoon north of Santa Fe and northwest of
Clovis.
Shortly before 5 p.m. the Santa Fe National Forest Service
reported the fire to be actively running with spot fires appearing
in front of the main blaze.
Winds at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport at 4 p.m. were reported to
be from the west-southwest at 20 mph gusting to 31 mph.
The fire was initially spotted at 3:20 p.m. by two members of the
Los Alamos Civil Air Patrol squadron, according to information
provided to News 13. Pilot Mike Strevell and observer Bill Wolfe
circled the fire and reported it to be "roaring."
Their plotting placed the fire just over a ridge south from
Pacheco Canyon and about four miles northeast of Tesuque. The
interagency Southwest Coordinating Center later placed the fire at
five to seven acres and about six miles northeast of Tesuque.
Two air tankers and a lead plane were being brought in to drop
retardant, SWCC reported.